More protection for players has become a mantra for the NHL, and players themselves over the past few years, and it's hard to blame them. No amount of money is worth permanent injury, or worse. Some members of the Edmonton Oilers seem to agree.
This current wave of interest in adding protection against cuts for hockey players was sparked by the death of Adam Johnson, who died during a game being played in England after taking an opponent's skate to the neck. It should also be noted that Kane suffered a cut to the wrist last season that forced him to the sidelines for a significant amount of time. Simple steps to avoid serious injury or death seems like a no-brainer.